Bridging the Gap: How West Coast Teams Boost Addiction Care Knowledge

Twenty-five years ago, people noticed a big problem. Scientists were making discoveries about addiction treatment, but those findings weren't reaching the people who needed them most: doctors, nurses, and counselors. This sparked the creation of two important groups: the Clinical Trials Network (CTN) and the Addiction Technology Transfer Centers (ATTCs). Their goal? To get research out of labs and into the hands of healthcare workers. Fast forward to today. A team on the West Coast is working hard to keep this mission alive. They're part of the Western States CTN Node Training and Dissemination Workgroup. This group includes leaders from the Western States CTN Node, Northwest ATTC, Pacific Southwest ATTC, and the CTN Dissemination Library. They're focused on one main task: helping addiction treatment professionals stay up-to-date with the latest science.So, how do they do it? Two main ways. First, they host webinars twice a year. These online events let experts share new research and best practices with hundreds of professionals. Second, they publish a monthly column in the ATTC Messenger newsletter. This keeps the conversation going and reaches even more people. But how do they know if they're making a difference? Over the past five years, they've tracked their impact. Thousands of people have attended their webinars, and their newsletter column has a steady readership. These numbers show that there's a real appetite for this kind of information. Looking ahead, the team sees even more opportunities. They believe that by working together, they can make an even bigger impact. Their vision? A future where every addiction treatment professional has access to the latest research and tools. Because when it comes to fighting addiction, knowledge isn't just power—it's a lifeline.